It's been difficult meeting people out here.  In SF, I worked and there were always new people with similar interests to meet and chat with.  And because I lived in a very cozy and walkable neighborhood, I've never really felt like I was lacking in socialization. 

It's a different story out here.  The only person I see 5 or 6 days out of the week is PD (excluding the cashiers at Bel-Air).  So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I made 2 friends.

After I introduced PD to them and showed him the assortment of new felt colors (for the hair) so that I can make more friends, he said that I really needed a job to come along.  Stat.

I agree. 

Friends are adapted from patterns found here.

Run Like the Wind

I got these shoes last week as a very nice present.

In the past decade, my fitness regime has turned from running, to yoga, to zilch for the past year.  Well, maybe not completely zilch -  I cut the fat off my meat now.  Just nip it at the bud, I say.

I am a shorter person (barely reaching 5'1) with a small frame (according others and this article), who tries but doesn't always eat the healthiest (Fried chicken or chips of any kind? I'll take 'em.).  It's called "skinny fat".

Urban Dictionary definition: To look slim, even with revealing clothes, but when touched, the touching hand sinks into fat before reaching muscle.

Lovely, right?

Being "skinny fat" and having three decades of life under my belt just can't be the best for my heart.  So.  I'm taking up running again, with new shoes to boot!  They simulate barefoot running without the creepy visible shoe separation of toes.  I took them for a whirl Monday on the treadmill and felt fantastic!  Instead of needing to stop because both my leg muscles are tired AND my heart is not able to keep up, it was just my heart begging me to stop while my legs felt like they can go for miles and miles!

I'm going to test them out again this afternoon to make sure it wasn't a fluke.

Disclaimer:  I might by hyping them up a tad, since my base comp was my previous pair of runners from 2006.  So these are just a big upgrade for me, to say the least.  I'm just way behind in the running shoe technology.

Boston

I went to Boston last week.  It was my first trip there and (like 90% of the places I visit), I can totally see myself living there.

Top 10 things I loved about this trip (in no particular order):

• Hanging out with family.
• The historical vibe of the city.
• The delicious abundance of fresh lobster.  Lobster sandwiches in particular.
• Dunkin' Donuts on every corner.
• The warm and humid summer weather.
• The trip to Maine for soft-shell lobsters with a successful Barbour Outlet visit on the way.
• The 7-day CharlieCard pass.
• How the amount of walking negated all the calories consumed.
• Going to the Old State House Museum.
• Walking around the campuses of impressive Ivy Leagues schools.

Cap to Cap

This past weekend, PD and I road tripped with SF friends to visit friends (and recent relocatees) in Carson City.  It was a 36 hour whirlwind of a blast.    

Snippets of this blast included:  several comedic road rage inspired commentaries, a delicious charcuterie spread, a dayhike with continuous Lake Tahoe views (And boy - was the water blue and crystal clear!  Now I get all the "Keep Tahoe Blue" bumper stickers.), chipmunk sightings, GIANT portions of ice cream, a tasty home-cooked dinner, an introduction to Love in the Wild, a downtown walking tour, Taiwanese food, and a successful trip to the Patagonia outlet.  And obviously, quality friend-time.

I feel lucky to have such cool friends.  Especially friends who carry an extra Nalgene bottle of water and bring extra cash.  ;)

Pit stop in Placerville.

First sighting of friends! Nope, we did not caravan. Just perfectly timed.